Tarot Talk & Technique

Hi all... I have been thinking of getting a thoth deck lately and was wondering about what you all have to say, people who are using it and used it. I also have heard that this deck may not be of good energy, is that true? I have also heard that this deck is less about divination and more about spiritual ascension. I really like the deck and some of the ideas behind it, the ones i heard and understood. Just want to understand more before i take the plunge... what to expect, dos and don't and stuff like that. I would be very grateful if anyone could respond to this. Thank you 🙏

I've just discovered that one of my decks has a card missing - the Eight of Swords. What should I do? It's a deck that I like a lot and use regularly. I've no idea where the card could be. I take decks away from home sometimes so I can do daily draws while travelling so it may be it fell under a hotel bed somewhere 😞 Or it may be lurking in a dusty corner at home... Should I still read with it? What are the issues with reading with an incomplete deck?

Hello all, there's a few things I'm wondering about and hope you can shed some light on it. I apologize if these questions have been asked before, but decided to put these rather short questions into one post. First question: why (or in what instances) could/should a significator be used? I understand the concept of it, just wasn't sure when and how it should be used. Second question: what benefits are there to using an Oracle deck, especially in conjunction with a tarot deck? What are the pros and cons? Last question is more of a comment; what are some good tips and tricks for people learning to read the cards intuitively?

As I am learning and trying the cards on anyone, like clothing, I suddenly thought that my Stafford was a textbook example of the Knight of Wands. He's charming, athletic, totally self-confident and fearless, always ready for adventures, will tackle what others avoid, rises to any challenge and is a loyal friend. On the negative side, he's hot-tempered, doesn't stop to think before acting, has self-control issues and too ready for a fight (of course he's not allowed to fight). I am still thinking about cats, they aren't as easy for me, but I think it will be a useful exercise for me to figure their cards. What about yours?

This may seem like a straightforward question but I would like to look at the deeper levels...sorry in advance for a long description! I guess I can give an example here. I remember my first reading was 3 years ago. I wasnt inclined towards tarot back then, than I am today and only did like two readings with two different professionals in 2021. I remember both the readings telling me that I will meet a soulmate in 2023. Of course, I did not know any cards back then so I dont know what card came up at what placement. After that, I dropped it. 2 years later, in the start of 2023, I went back to those readers to do another reading. I got a bit cocky …

How would you read a reversed Queen of Pentacles for aspects of career that cannot be changed? I read it as non-traditional, non- profit, investments required. Job for passion and not just for money.

Hey there. Newbie here. When learning and studying cards some sources have some variations in card meanings. When you're learning to read and interpret the cards do you tend to stick to one source of meanings for consistency, the source that resonates the most with the current spread of the cards and questions asked, intuition of what definitions resonates with you, or something else entirely? I'm currently learning with my ~25 year old Rider Waite Tarot Deck and I find, primarily in the lesser arcana, some differences on interpretation between the booklet that comes with the deck and more modern sources.

Hi, all! I'm having trouble with a few of my decks warping badly, even though they're new and only recently acquired. One is my beloved Sakki-Sakki deck, which i just got in November. The other is the Instant Archetypes deck which is a brand-new deck that was only printed and shipped in December. Here's what it looks like already, even though it's barely been out of the box: I googled and found these AT threads about warping... http://www.tarotforum.net/library/16/2003-05/warped-cards-how-can-i-unwarp-them-20030516.shtml https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=195659 ...but they're full of suggestions that don't seem to apply — most of my decks are …

I know this is an increasingly nuanced question, but…what do you do when a reading (or your interpretation of it) doesn’t turn out? What do you learn? How do you deal with the feeling of (for lack of a better term) betrayal?

These two cards share a lot of similarities, they both represent a union, harmony, partnership (romantic or not), choices and etc. But what are the differences of these two cards? As a newbie I can't really tell. And I saw it on some other forum that the development of the relationship in 2 of cups is more passive than the lovers, but it will last longer. I'm wondering where is this conclusion coming from? Also what is your idea about these two cards?

I was having a conversation with a friend about tarot decks that follow no system, if the images didn't have a number or title, one would never know what the card was supposed to be (I see this often in theme decks). Decks that are more like an oracle to me, but just numbered like tarot. He said he doesn't need a system or titles, he interprets them himself. I found this really interesting as I have yet to find an oracle (honestly haven't looked really hard, but would like to find an oracle I can work with) I can work with and decks that don't follow a system, to me are basically oracles, you use your intuition. I KNOW some oracles have a book and descript…

This may sound like a stupid question 🫣 but I really want to know everyone's shuffling and cleansing technique... Shuffling: I know a lot of readers in the world dont and do read reversals. Either ways, how do you shuffle your cards? And if you read reversals, how do you make sure to shuffle them upside down as well?... Cleansing: I have realised that doing readings for multiple people without cleansing the deck can corrupt the cards that come out or are picked. I have heard of various ways of cleansing but I would love to hear from forumers...

I think this is an important topic that doesn’t get talked about as often as it should. This article is well worth the read! https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/how-to-spot-a-fake-tarot-deck-and-why-you-should-care?fbclid=IwAR17mgi_z2b3SzDKu9arCRTTmafOvnZvDfov9jPCU01_z5oWkHwWrmVtD7s

Hi everyone, I saw a great thread on (another tarot site) (link removed) For those who don't feel like reading it, basically this person came up with some creative ways to learn tarot everyday for the next 365 days. Here's some of their ideas: - If the card is pulled for the first time, meditate on its themes and symbols. I am personally planning to imagine myself inside the card and take note of any smells, sensations, tastes, colours, and overall feelings. - If the card is pulled for the second time, spend 10-15 minutes journaling on its themes and how they're showing up in your life - If the card is pulled for the thir…

I'm a beginner. Sometimes I ask a question about a friend and the cards are very negative Hours later I ask the same question, I get a positive answer. Also when I ask "What's their karma for treating me poorly?" and the first card I get is "queen of pentacles". It's like they are going to get financial abundance after doing bad things to me. I've noticed that I usually get such jinxed up answers when I use tarot at night. Could someone please spread some light into what I might be doing wrong? Am I asking too many questions?

I used to like to get readings, back in the day. But now at closing in at 73, some chronic conditions, and pretty isolated (although I have some great friends locally, my best friend is a retired ER doc, which comes in handy), there's no reading I can see being great. What would I ask to be read on? So it's not that I think there are not great readers out there, I DO, it's that I KNOW there are and there isn't anything I want to know. Does anyone else not really want to be read for for any reason?

It's like an artist who spends time without inspiration and a writer who can't write. Creative block. The cards don't speak, you don't see patterns, it's difficult to make predictions correctly. I can't connect with the cards. Silence. There don't seem to be any answers. Both for my readings and for the readings I do professionally. I make 1, 2, 3 predictions. Wrong - at least I see it that way. I review the meanings, the symbols, the methods, the wording of the question... nothing. This is new to me! Yes, it's the end of the year, the demand for New Year's readings are arriving in full force. Stress increases, the pressure to be productive... I've been tr…

Sometimes I think that we're all just making things up. That we're just imagining the cards are saying things when they're just pretty images on cardboard. What can a deck of cards really say about anything? Are we simply making the general messages fit into our lives because we want to believe the messages are from a divine source? Is there really magic in Tarot? In divination? How do you deal with doubts like these? And sometimes I'm blown away by the accuracy of a tarot reading and think yeah there's definitely something magical about these cards. They do sometimes seem to pick up on things that the reader couldn't have known. It's amazing sometimes how the…

I'm new here and interested to know whether you guys follow any special procedure or ritual when handling the cards? Few things I do: 1. Wash hands prior to handling cards 2. Burn incense sticks 3. Put cards on a fresh clean cloth. Never on dusty surfaces 4. Call upon my guides to be present

Hey guys. I'm using the golden art nouveau tarot deck and I have encountered some problems with this 5 of cups. I would like to know your opinions. 1. As you can see, the 3 fallen cups has liquid with different colours (one is red, could that be wine or blood? One is blue or transparent, I suppose water) what do you think this refers to? Elements? 2. I understand that this man in the 5 of cups original card is quite depressed, disappointed, regret or feeling powerless because the 3 fallen cups, meanwhile he ignored the 2 upright cups behind him, which could be some emotional support that he can have once he turned back. But on this card, the upright cups ar…

I am reading a Oracle deck book and the author says that Oracles funny scare people the way Tarot Cards do. She thinks that people perceive the Tarot to be evening and that they are afraid to have readings with them. Sitting my experience is limited, I can honestly say that I haven't met anyone that felt that they are black magic it evil. What do you think? I still love Tarot.

Hi All I've read a lot about reversals, but am still unclear. My deck is always mixed up - I don't 're-set' as such. Should I?! My question is; if I have the 10 of swords reversed in my deck and I shuffle away, (I don't tend to flip many cards 180 degrees.), then that card is going to stay there for many subsequent readings. I'm thinking of re-setting all cards and letting the querent lay all the cards down and move them around - this way the reversals will be organic and not set. Am I making sense? Any thoughts? Thanks so much, Katie

Hi all I see that there's many techniques and ways to shuffle. This is how I do it, it's worked for me, but I just want to check what you think - if thats okay. I shuffle, I get a feeling of energy. I then pass my cards to the person I'm reading for. They shuffle and spread cards out like a fan. They then pick by running their hand over. Does this sound okay? I was reading that I should pick the cards for them. Also, the reverse cards are reverse to the person, not me. If they pick out the sun card reversed, i dont turn it round and make it upright. I saw someone do this the other day and thought it wasn't right. …

I’ve recently started journaling again after a long time. I was trying to describe a mood I was feeling, and I thought of the 10 of Wands card. Card expressed what I was writing about and how I was feeling that day, overburdened. I think that it could be helpful for me when I’m having a certain feeling to post for my self in my entries, a card that matches my current state of mind. Does anyone else do this?

I learned tarot by studying books by Eden Gray and others. Ms. Gray says in her book that hair color of the seeker should match the hair color correspondence of the specific suits. For instance a Sword court card for a dark brown haired person. I often find that a card going by hair color alone doesn’t fit the quarant personalities. Like I might have a very artistic dreamy person whose hair is dark brown (Swords) but a rather a Cups court card instead. So I choose based on their personality trains rather than the tarot definition. In the reading itself I pay more attention to hair colors. How do you feel about this topic? Of course sometimes a Major see…